Questar III Purchasing Agent Julie Best helps districts save with equipment leasing and the cooperative bidding service.
Questar III BOCES Purchasing Agent Julie Best is like a personal shopper for school districts. They tell her what they want and need; she makes the purchase on their behalf. The difference is she actually saves the district more money than if they were to do this on their own.
Best makes up the one-woman operation behind Questar III’s Cooperative Bidding service. She also handles equipment purchases and leases for the districts. Both services take the burden off the districts itself while saving money.
Best describes the cooperative bidding service much like a Sam’s Club or BJ’s Wholesale Club; when you buy in bulk, you spend less per item.
“Let’s say district A wants to buy 20 cases of hamburgers, district B needs 30, and district C needs 10,” said Best. “They place their request with me, and then I make one big bid to the vendor. It costs the district less money to do it this way than on their own.”
Additionally, by having Best place the bid, the district doesn’t have to worry about complying with bidding laws; Questar III takes on the responsibility for them. Likewise, when Best makes a technology purchase for the district, Questar III handles the financing, takes on the debt and carries the equipment on its insurance, saving the district time and money.
“Districts have very little money right now,” said Best. “So if I can assist them in stretching the money they do have with our services, it’s very helpful.”
In addition to purchasing, Best also handles reimbursements, several operations and maintenance budgets and oversees the warehouse. She also assists Health and Safety with paperwork.
Outside of work, Best said she enjoys reality television and traveling. In fact, she and her husband, who live in Poestenkill spent a year traveling the country by van.
Best says she loves the people she works with at Questar III as well as taking on new and challenging projects.
Best received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from Russell Sage College and briefly worked at the CP Center before being hired by Questar III in 1991.
